In Australia and the UK the term ‘practice nurse’ refers to a nurse who works in a General Practice, typically a medical centre where the role involves assisting a number of GPs. They may also be referred to as a General Practice Nurse (GPN).
The Australian Practice Nurse Association(APNA) defines practice nurses as registered or certificate qualified enrolled nurses who are employed by general practice.
The majority of general practice nurses in Australia are registered nurses working part-time in medium to large general practice.
Working as a practice nurse
Practice nurses are considered an integral part of an efficient clinic and can assist with providing faster care to patients. Practice nurses are often involved with counselling patients on lifestyle issues or managing chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma, as well as health assessments such as age specific child health checks. They may also be called on to carry out routine procedures such as immunisations or assist GPs with procedures that can be performed in the surgery. The size of a GP clinic and patient demographics often influence the role of a practice nurse. Along with clinical care, a large part of the role is providing administration support which may include management of patient information systems, maintaining equipment and stock, patient follow-ups, organising referrals, and planning and coordinating care plans.
Nurses are often attracted to working in general practice because of the opportunities for flexible or part-time hours. The general practice nurse role suits caring, motivated and responsible individuals who are committed to providing a high standard of patient centred care. Skills required involve communicating well with doctors and patients, working as part of a team, planning and organisation.
Those currently working as a practice nurse say they enjoy the autonomy and the ability to develop and run education clinics for chronic conditions.
As Australia moves more to a multi-GP clinic model, practice nursing is one of the fastest growing areas of nursing in Australia. Over 60% of general practices employ at least one nurse. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Standards provides national practice standards for nurses in general practice in Australia. Nurses wanting to work in the area of General Practice may choose to undertake specialised postgraduate study such as Graduate Diploma or Masters in Nursing (General Practice).
HealthStaff Recruitment has a number of nursing positions available both in Australia and the UK. Check out our job board today to find a role that’s right for you.